Group for packing products into tubular packaging

ABSTRACT

A group for packing products in tubular packaging, comprises a vertical tube for supporting a packaging material supplied around the tube and from which single tubular packaging can be obtained, the tube includes an upper end defining an opening for loading the products to be packed, a lower end defining an opening for unloading the products inside the single wrappings obtained from the packaging material, the tube includes internally a falling channel for the products that can be selectively closed.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of priority from Italian PatentApplication No. BO 2013 A 000015 filed on Jan. 16, 2013, the contents ofwhich are incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns a group for packing products into tubularpackaging.

DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

In the field of packing products, for example fruit and vegetableproducts and the like, single packets are widely used consisting ofpackets or bags in the form of nets, for example in natural or syntheticmaterial, in which a certain number of products are contained, forexample fruit, vegetables, but also others, to be put on sale.

As known, the use of packages in the form of nets promotes a betterpreservation of the products of this kind, since optimal ventilation andnatural perspiration is obtained.

The aforementioned packets of products are made on packing machinescomprising means for blocking one or more supports for supplying thetubular net with which the wrappings of the products are to be made.

More in detail, such supports are substantially made up of tubes, orother similar elements, arranged vertically or with a slightinclination, along which a section with set length of the net isinserted.

Once it has been inserted along the tube, for every filling cycle thetubular net is closed at the lower end, and is filled with products thatfall freely through the cavity of the tube itself; after every fillingstep, the tubular net is closed at the upper end, for example throughsealing, and is cut.

Otherwise, the net can be closed with other means such as clips madefrom metal, plastic, or the like.

The packets thus obtained are then deposited on transportation means,for example a belt.

Of course, in order to obtain the greatest possible number of fillingcycles without stopping the machine, a section of tubular net that issufficiently long so as to ensure a certain autonomy is usuallycompacted on a single support tube.

For example, on a tube having a length in the order of a metre, somehundreds of metres of tubular nets can be compacted, so that a singletube can allow the continuous operation of the machine for a certainperiod of time.

The packing can also be carried out in so called vertical formingmachines, in which the net, or in any case the packaging material, is inthe flat form, and is wound around the tube through a forming collar.

The two ends are vertically sealed along the packaging material so as toobtain a cylindrical shape wrapped around the tube itself.

It is also foreseen for there to be means, in general belts, which pullthe packaging material thus made along the tube.

These machines are characterised by a considerable autonomy, due to thefact that the packaging material is initially wound into reels that aresufficiently large; however, the length of the tube onto which thepackaging material is wound is remarkable, since along its lateralsurface both vertical sealing means and means for pulling the net mustbe foreseen having suitable sizes.

As mentioned, the products to be inserted in the packaging wrappingsfall freely through the tube for a section that can also be more than ametre long, before reaching the bottom of the wrapping: for certaintypes of products—for example fruit and vegetable products having a softconsistency—this can cause serious damage due to the impact from thefall.

Such damage can jeopardise the integrity of the product, and cantherefore prevent the product from being able to be sold.

On the other hand, it is not advantageous to reduce the length of thetube through which the products fall, since this would make it necessaryto replace it frequently due to the limited autonomy in terms of thepackaging material, with obvious drawbacks as far as productivity isconcerned.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The technical task of the present invention is therefore that ofimproving the state of the art.

In such a technical task, one purpose of the present invention is todevise a group for packing products into tubular packaging that makes itpossible to considerably reduce the risks of the products being damagedin their path falling through the tube supporting the packagingmaterial.

Another purpose of the present invention is that of making a group forpacking products in tubular packaging that is simple to operate andcost-effective to make.

A further purpose of the present invention is that of providing a groupfor packing products into tubular packaging that is suitable for beinginstalled into packing machines of the known type.

This task and these purposes are achieved with a group for packingproducts into tubular packaging according to the present principles.

According to one aspect, the packaging group comprises a tube forsupporting a packaging material supplied around the tube and from whichsingle tubular packaging can be obtained; the tube comprises one upperend defining an opening for loading the products to be packed, a lowerend defining an opening for unloading the products inside the singlewrappings obtained made from the packaging material, and a fallingchannel for the products delimited by the loading and unloading opening.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the packaginggroup comprises means for selectively closing the falling channel forthe products.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, the means forselectively closing the falling channel for the products comprise adeformable element that is inserted inside the tube and is selectivelymobile from an open configuration, in which it allows the free fall ofthe products along the falling channel of the tube, to a closedconfiguration in which it forms, inside the falling channel of the tube,an intermediate stopping area that defines a first and a secondconsecutive section of the falling channel.

The dependent claims refer to preferred and advantageous embodiments ofthe invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The characteristics of the invention shall become clearer to any manskilled in the art from the following description and the attacheddrawing tables, given as a non-limiting example, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a packaging group according to theinvention;

FIG. 2 is another perspective view, from a different angle, of the samegroup with some parts removed for the sake of clarity;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a detail of the upper part of the group,with some parts removed for the sake of clarity;

FIG. 4 is a top view of the group with some parts removed;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the group with some parts removed andwith the deformable element of the selective closure means in the openconfiguration;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the group with some removed parts andwith the deformable element of the selective closure means in the closedconfiguration; and

FIG. 7 is a front view of a detail of the upper part of the packaginggroup according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to the attached FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 whollyindicates a group for packing products into tubular packaging accordingto the present invention.

The group 1 according to the invention as described in the rest of thedescription can be applied in particular, but not exclusively, in thefield of packaging fruit and vegetable products and the like in tubularpackaging.

The packaging group 1 according to the present invention can beincorporated in machines that pack products in a tubular packaging thatis closed at the ends, obtained from a continuous tube of flexiblepackaging material.

The packaging material can typically be made up of tubular net, forexample natural or synthetic, both woven or extruded.

The packaging material however could also be of another kind, i.e. notof the net type, for example plastic, paper, or yet others.

Machines of this type usually comprise means for supplying products tobe packed: in particular the products are supplied in set amounts, forexample in terms of units or overall weight.

The packaging group 1 according to the present invention is foreseendownstream of the aforementioned supplying means.

Downstream of the packaging group 1 according to the present inventionthere is usually a station for closing the wrappings at the ends, formaking the finished packages of products. Such a closing station is notpart of the present invention, and shall not therefore be described indetail.

For example, in the case in which the packaging material is made up of atubular synthetic net, the closing station can operate throughheat-sealing of the ends of the wrapping filled with products.

In other embodiments, the closing station can obviously be of anothertype, without limiting the purposes of the present invention.

The packaging group 1 comprises a frame, wholly indicated with referencenumeral 2.

The frame 2 of the group 1 is suitable for being fixed to the base ofthe packaging machine, not represented in the figures, according tomodalities that are not the object of the present invention.

The packaging group 1 also comprises a tube 4 for supporting a packagingmaterial, from which individual tubular packaging can be obtained to beclosed at the ends once they are filled up.

The tube 4 is supported by the frame 2 as shall become clearer from therest of the description.

The packaging material, i.e. the tubular net, is supplied around thetube 4, in particular along its outer surface.

Moreover, the shape and the dimensions of the tube 4 can be any, inrelation to the specific application requirements.

The tube 4 is supported by the frame 2 with a vertical axis.

Alternatively, the tube 4 could be supported by the frame 2 with itsaxis inclined with respect to the vertical, with an angle of inclinationin any case such as to ensure the correct fall of the products.

The tube 4 comprises an upper end 6.

The upper end 6 of the tube 4 defines an opening 8 for loading theproducts to be packed.

At the loading opening 8 a hopper 10 is mounted for supplying theproducts.

The hopper 10 can have any shape or dimensions, in relation for exampleto the type of products that are treated, or to the amount of productsto be introduced in a same package, or in relation to yet otherparameters.

The tube 4 also comprises a lower end 12.

The lower end 12 of the tube 4 defines an opening 14 for unloading theproducts through falling inside the single wrappings, not represented inthe figures, obtained from the packaging material.

The tube 4 moreover comprises, inside it, a falling channel for theproducts 16, delimited by the loading opening 8 and by the unloadingopening 14.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the packaging group 1comprises means, wholly indicated with reference numeral 18, forselectively closing the falling channel 16 of the products.

As explained in greater detail in the rest of the description, theselective closure means 18 are actuated in relation to the differentpacking steps of the products.

More in particular, the selective closure means 18 are suitable fordividing the falling channel for the products 16 into at least twoconsecutive sections 20, 22 that are travelled along in sequence by theproducts to be packed.

This makes it possible to obtain two consecutive sections 20, 22 of pathfor the falling of products both having a length that is considerablyshorter than the total length of the tube 4, with obvious advantages interms of reduction of the risk of products becoming damaged due to theimpact from falling on the bottom of the wrapping that receives them.

In other embodiments of the invention not represented in the figures,the selective closure means 18 can be suitable for dividing the fallingchannel 16 of the products possibly also into a greater number ofconsecutive sections, in relation to the specific applicationrequirements.

The selective closure means 18 shall be described in detail in the restof the description.

The frame 2 of the packaging group comprises, in particular, threeplates 24, 26, 28 positioned over one another, and reciprocallyconnected through uprights 30, 32.

More in particular, the frame 2 comprises a lower plate 24, anintermediate plate 26 and an upper plate 28.

The intermediate plate 26 is fixed onto first uprights 30 that rest onthe lower plate 24.

The upper plate 28 is on the other hand fixed onto second uprights 32 inturn resting on the intermediate plate 26.

The upper end 6 of the tube 4 is supported by the intermediate plate 26of the frame 2.

In particular, the upper end 6 of the tube 4 comprises a first flange 34that is fixed to the intermediate plate 26, at a first circular opening36 of the latter.

The lower end 12 of the tube 4 on the other hand, is free since, asmentioned, below it, packages of products are formed for filling thetubular packaging made from the packaging material accumulated along thetube 4 itself.

In detail, the selective closure means 18 of the falling channel 16 ofthe products along the tube 4 comprise a deformable element 38.

The deformable element 38 is inserted inside the tube 4.

The deformable element 38 is made from a yieldable material, for examplerubber canvas, or from another material with equivalent and suitablecharacteristics.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the deformable element38 is selectively mobile from an open configuration, in which it allowsthe products to fall free along the channel 16, to a closedconfiguration in which it forms, inside the falling channel 16, anintermediate stopping area 40 that defines consecutive first and secondsections 20, 22 of the falling channel 16 for the products.

The deformable element 38 has a substantially tubular shape, and ismounted coaxially with respect to the tube 4.

The deformable element 38 thus constitutes a sort of internal lining ofthe tube 4.

The deformable element 38 comprises a first end 42.

Such a first end 42 is positioned at the lower end 12 of the tube 4.

The deformable element 38 also comprises a second end 44.

The second end 44 is positioned at the upper end 6 of the tube 4.

The deformable element 38 is supported by the intermediate plate 26 andby the upper plate 28 of the frame 2, as shall be made clearer in therest of the description.

The selective closure means 18 also comprise means 46 for rotating thesecond end 44 with respect to the first end 42 of the deformable element38.

In other embodiments, however, the selective closure means 18 couldcomprise, in an equivalent manner, means for rotating the first end 42with respect to the second end 44 of the deformable element 38, inrelation to the specific application requirements, through a simplekinematic inversion.

The rotation means 46 are operatively connected to a control unit of theoperation of the packaging machine in which the packaging groupaccording to the present invention is installed.

The rotation means 46 make it possible to selectively modify theconfiguration of the deformable element 38 in relation to the operativepackaging steps.

More in detail, the aforementioned opening configuration of thedeformable element 38—illustrated in FIG. 5—is substantially a stretchedout tube.

In this open configuration, the products introduced through the loadingopening 8 can freely fall along the falling channel 16, withoutobstacles.

The open configuration of the deformable element 38 corresponds to asituation in which no rotation is given to the second end 44 withrespect to the first end 42 of the deformable element 38.

The aforementioned closed configuration of the deformable element 38 ison the other hand substantially tubular and twisted around itself, asillustrated in FIG. 6.

This configuration corresponds to a situation in which the second end 44is rotated by a certain angle with respect to the first end 42.

The angle of rotation of the second end 44 of the deformable element 38with respect to the first end 42 can vary in relation to differentparameters, for example the dimensions of the deformable element 38itself and the material with which it is made, the type of products tobe packed and their number, and others more.

In such a closed configuration of the deformable element 38, theintermediate stopping area 40 that is created consists of a constrictionof the same deformable element 38 substantially at its centre line. Inpractice, a sort of funnel that completely brakes the fall of theproducts along the channel 16 is thus created, in the aforementionedstopping area 40.

The rotation means 46 comprise a first ring 48 that is fixedly attachedto the first end 42 of the deformable element 38.

The first ring 48 is rigidly connected to the tube 4, in particular toits lower end 12, as shall be described in greater detail in the rest ofthe description.

The rotation means 46 moreover comprise a second ring 50 that is fixedlyattached to the second end 44 of the deformable element 38, visible inparticular in the detail of FIG. 3.

The rotation means 46 comprise a motor 52 that is supported by the frame2 and coupled with the second ring 50.

The motor 52 is fixed, more in detail, to the upper plate 28 of theframe 2.

The second ring 50 is rotatably supported by the frame 2; in particularit is rotatably supported by the intermediate plate 26 and by the upperplate 28 of the frame 2 itself.

As illustrated in the detail of FIG. 7, the second ring 50 comprises alower collar 54 and an upper collar 56.

The lower collar 54 is supported by lower thrust roller bearings 58 thatare fixed to the first flange 34 of the tube 4, which is fixed in turnto the intermediate plate 26.

For example, the lower roller bearings 58 can be in a number of three,positioned angularly equidistant with respect to one another.

The upper collar 56 is rotatably supported by upper roller bearings 60,which are fixed to the upper plate 28.

Also the upper roller bearings 60 can be for example in number of three,positioned angularly equidistant with respect to one another.

The rotation means 46 comprise means, wholly indicated with referencenumeral 62, for transmitting the rotation movement from the motor 52 tothe second ring 50.

More in particular, the transmission means 62 comprise a crown gear 64that is mounted on the second ring 50.

In particular, the crown gear 64 is interposed between the lower collar54 and the upper collar 56.

The transmission means 62 moreover comprise a toothed pinion 66 that iscoupled with the outlet shaft of the motor 52 and engaging with thecrown gear 64, as illustrated also in FIG. 4.

The gear ratio between the pinion 66 and the crown 64 is suitably sizedin relation to the rotation angle that the second end 44 of thedeformable element 38 must carry out with respect to the first end 42.

The transmission means 62 can also be of another type, in particularsuitable for giving the second ring 50 an alternate rotation—i.e. firstin one direction and then in the other direction—with the desired angle.

For example, they can be of the type using a linear actuator instead ofa rotary one.

In this case, the transmission means can comprise for example aslider-crank mechanism, or a rack that is coupled with a crown gear, orother equivalent and suitable means.

The packaging group 1 according to the present invention also comprisesa magnetic proximity sensor 68 that is coupled with the crown gear 64 ofthe transmission means 62.

The magnetic proximity sensor 68 is suitable for detecting the positionand/or the rotation speed of the second ring 50 of the deformableelement 38 with respect to the first ring 48, and thus makes it possibleto precisely control the different steps of the operation of thepackaging group 1.

In particular the magnetic proximity sensor 68 can be for example of theHall effect type for detecting the alternation between teeth-spaces ofthe crown gear 64 during its rotation.

The hopper 10 is associated with the upper plate 28 at a second flange70 that is fixed at a second circular opening 72 of the upper plate 28itself.

The packaging group 1 can also comprise means for adjusting the mountingtension of the deformable element 38 inside the tube 4.

In practice, in a first operative step, the rotation means 46 areactuated so as to rotate the second end 44 of the deformable element 38with respect to the first end 42.

The second end 44 is rotated by a certain set and variable angle inrelation to specific characteristics of the deformable element 38,and/or of the treated products, and/or in relation to yet othercharacteristics, thus achieving a twisting of the deformable element 38itself around its axis.

In such a way, the deformable element 38 is brought from the openconfiguration to the closed configuration already described: there isthus, at the centre line of the deformable element 38, the intermediatestopping area 40 for the products to be packed, with the characteristicspreviously described.

Once the closed configuration of the deformable element 38 has beenobtained, the products to be packed are then introduced inside itthrough the hopper 10 and thus the loading opening 8.

The products then travel freely through the first section 20 of thefalling channel 16, and are all collected at the intermediate stoppingarea 40.

As mentioned, the material with which the deformable element 38 is madeis soft and yieldable, for example rubber canvas or the like.

Thanks to this characteristic, the deformable element 38 twisted arounditself provides for stopping the fall of the products so as tocompletely dampen possible impacts.

Once all the products to be packed have completely stopped inside thedeformable element 38, the rotation means 46 are actuated again, thistime in the opposite direction.

In this way, the deformable element 38 is rapidly brought back to theopen configuration, in which it is stretched out with a tubular shape.

The products to be packed are thus freed to travel along the secondsection 22 of the falling channel 16, and can be then collected on thebottom of the tubular packaging that will make up the final packaging.

The second falling section 22 is thus not more than half the length ofthe normal portion that the products would travel in a conventional tubewithout selective closure means.

The products thus reach a slower final fall speed, and their impact onthe bottom of the wrapping, which is much lower, is such as to not causedamage, also in the cases of products having a particularly softconsistency.

It has thus been seen how the invention achieves the proposed purposes.

As clarified, the packaging group according to the invention makes itpossible to eliminate—or in any case drastically reduce—the risks ofdamaging the products in their fall inside the tubular packaging thatwill constitute the pack in which they are sold. This result is obtainedwith a group that has a simple construction and is cost-effective tomake, easy to control and easily maintained.

Moreover, the group according to the invention can simply be installedalso on already existing packing machines, by simply replacing it to theconventional packaging group already present in them.

The present invention has been described according to preferredembodiments, but equivalent variants can be conceived without departingfrom the scope of protection offered by the following claims.

1. Group for packing goods in tubular packaging, comprising a tubesupporting a packaging material fed around said tube and from whichdiscrete tubular packaging can be formed, said tube including an upperend providing a load opening for the goods to be packaged, a lower endproviding a discharge opening for the goods inside the discretepackaging obtained from said packaging material, and a goods fallingchannel bounded by said load opening and by said discharge opening andmeans for selective closing said goods falling channel.
 2. Groupaccording to claim 1, wherein said selective closing means divide saidgoods falling channel into at least two consecutive portions.
 3. Groupaccording to claim 2, wherein said selective closing means comprise adeformable member inserted into said tube and selectively mobile from anopening arrangement, in which it allows the goods free drop along saidtube, to a closing arrangement in which it defines inside said tube, anintermediate stop area defining a first portion and a second portion ofsaid falling channel respectively.
 4. Group according to claim 3,wherein said deformable member has a substantially tubular design, iscoaxially installed inside said tube and comprises a first and a secondjuxtaposed end, respectively.
 5. Group according to claim 4, whereinsaid selective closing means comprise rotation means of said second endwith respect to said first end or vice versa.
 6. Group according toclaim 5, wherein said rotation means comprise a first ring integral withsaid first end of said deformable member and connected to said tube, asecond ring integral with said second end of said deformable member anda motor coupled to said second ring.
 7. Group according to claim 6,wherein said rotation means comprise motion transmission means from saidmotor to said second ring.
 8. Group according to claim 7, wherein saidtransmission means comprise a crown wheel fitted to said second ring,and a toothed pinion coupled to the output shaft of said motor andmeshing with said crown wheel.
 9. Group according to claim 8, comprisinga magnetic proximity sensor coupled to said crown wheel, for detectingthe position and/or speed of said second ring with respect to said firstring of said deformable member.
 10. Group according to claim 1, whereinsaid tube is arranged with a vertical axis or tilted with respect to thevertical.
 11. Group according to claim 1, wherein said deformable memberis made of yielding material of the rubberized fabric kind or alike. 12.Group for packing goods in tubular packaging, comprising a tubesupporting a packaging material fed around said tube and from whichdiscrete tubular packaging can be formed, said tube including an upperend providing a load opening for the goods to be packaged, a lower endproviding a discharge opening for the goods inside the discretepackaging obtained from said packaging material, and a goods fallingchannel bounded by said load opening and by said discharge opening andmeans for selective closing said goods falling channel, said selectiveclosing means including a deformable member inserted into said tube andselectively mobile from an opening arrangement, in which it allows thegoods free drop along said tube, to a closing arrangement in which itdefines inside said tube, an intermediate stop area defining a firstportion and a second portion of said falling channel respectively. 13.Group according to claim 12, wherein said deformable member has asubstantially tubular design, is coaxially installed inside said tubeand comprises a first and a second juxtaposed end, respectively. 14.Group according to claim 12, wherein said selective closing meanscomprise rotation means of said second end with respect to said firstend or vice versa.
 15. Group according to claim 12, wherein saiddeformable member, when is in said opening arrangement, is substantiallyan unwrinkled or stretched out tube.
 16. Group according to claim 12,wherein said deformable member, when is in said closing arrangement, issubstantially a twisted tube by mutual rotation of said second end withrespect to said first end or vice versa, said intermediate stop areabeing formed by a pinching of said deformable member substantially atits center line.
 17. Group according to claim 12, wherein saiddeformable member has a substantially tubular design, is coaxiallyinstalled inside said tube and comprises a first and a second juxtaposedend, respectively.
 18. Group according to claim 12, wherein saiddeformable member is made of yielding material of the rubberized fabrickind or alike.
 19. Group according to claim 12, wherein said tube isarranged with a vertical axis or tilted with respect to the vertical.20. Group for packing goods in tubular packaging, comprising a tubesupporting a packaging material fed around said tube and from whichdiscrete tubular packaging can be formed, said tube including an upperend providing a load opening for the goods to be packaged, a lower endproviding a discharge opening for the goods inside the discretepackaging obtained from said packaging material, and a goods fallingchannel bounded by said load opening and by said discharge opening and asaid deformable member for selective closing said goods falling channel,wherein said deformable member has a substantially tubular design, afirst and a second juxtaposed end, respectively, is coaxially installedinside said tube, includes a first ring integral with said first end ofsaid deformable member and connected to said tube, a second ringintegral with said second end of said deformable member and a motorcoupled to said second ring.
 21. Group according to claim 20, comprisinga crown wheel fitted to said second ring, and a toothed pinion coupledto the output shaft of said motor and meshing with said crown wheel. 22.Group according to claim 21, comprising a magnetic proximity sensorcoupled to said crown wheel, for detecting the position and/or speed ofsaid second ring with respect to said first ring of said deformablemember.